Optical Measurements of Ripples Using a Scanning Laser Slope Gauge. Part 1. Instrumentation and Preliminary Results

Abstract

We describe the design, implementation, and deployment of a laser slope gauge developed at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for the purpose of studying the propagation characteristics of capillary ripples, and how currents and natural slicks on the ocean surface modify ripple spectra. The laser slope gauge constitutes a nondisruptive optical technique for determining the slope spectrum for a range of waves with wavelengths between 2 mm and 20 cm using both spatial and temporal information. Operation of the sensor and data acquisition system is discussed and a sample data record collected in the Gulf Stream off Cape Hatteras, NC is interpreted and analyzed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA261939

Entities

People

  • Erik J. Bock
  • Robert J. Martinsen

Organizations

  • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cape Hatteras
  • Circuit Boards
  • Data Acquisition
  • Data Analysis
  • Detectors
  • Dynamic Range
  • Frequency
  • Geometry
  • Measurement
  • Mirrors
  • North Carolina
  • Oceans
  • Printed Circuits
  • Signal Processing
  • Spectra
  • Surface Roughness
  • X Band

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Marine Mammal Biology
  • Software Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers